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Archive for the ‘Crafts’ Category

I’ve been busy crafting in between sick days.  I finished another fleece blanket and got a late Christmas New Years package sent off.  It included the other two fleece blankets, balaclava and a crochet shawl.   In my rush I forgot to take photos of the shawl and the one I made for my aunt.   Both were crochet from my own pattern, one in light blue and the other a two toned gray.  The yarn was Bernat Soft Boucle

I’m about half done the balaclava for my Uncle now.  Just an inch away from making the face opening.  I love the pattern, but the 2 x 2 ribbing goes slow!  I have two more to make from this pattern, then I may try making some changes.  I would like to see how it looks in stockinette.  That would be a much faster knit!

I love making no sew fleece blankets for gifts.  They are so quick and easy to make, yet beautiful and useful as well.   This year I’m making smaller lap blanket size ones, 1 meter long.   Hope you enjoy the video.  To read step by step instructions see here.

I finished another knitting project and it’s a hit!  This is for my BIL for Christmas, but dh was kind to model it for  photos.  He loves it and wants one as well.  I’m hoping to start on that today.

The pattern is Easy Balaclava and you can find it here on Ravelry or on Knitting in Color’s blog.

The only change I made to the pattern was to use a bulky weight yarn.  This gave me a men’s large size and it fits great.  Yarn used Cascades Eco +.

This is the yarn that followed me home on Saturday.  LOL  The black cascade is the one that was matted and tangled in the center.

The greenish/blue wool beside it I love!  Each ball is 50 grams.  So that would be about 6 oz all together.  Its DK weight.  Not enough for a shawl…Any ideas?

Welcome to the second edition of Gifts From The Heart.  I can’t wait to see what you’ve been crafting this week!  Please add your links to the bottom of the post.

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I’ve had an idea in my mind for a snowman ornament.  Today I sat down and wrote it out.  These would be so cute covering a Christmas tree.  They would also make great gift decorations, or glue magnets on the back for some super cute ornaments!

Chain 4, join with a slip stitch.

1st Row work 10 dc in the center of ring.  Join to the first one with a sl.  Chain 3 turn.

2nd Row *Work 2 dc in first stitch, work 1 dc in next stitch. *  Repeat ** all the way around, join with sl.

Repeat row 2 until desired size is reached.  In my example I stopped after row 2.

Weave ends in.

Hat

Row 1 Chain 16, slip stitch back through all chains.  At the end slip stich backwards 4 stitches. Chain 2

Row 2 *Sc in 8 stitches.  Chain 2 turn.*

Repeat ** until hat is desired height.  Cut yarn, weave in ends and sew to snowman face.

I used google eyes and sequins for the mouth and nose.  However I think mini pompoms would be very cute to!

Welcome to Gifts from the heart, a handmade Christmas.  This is the 1st of 6 weekly sharing posts.  I’m looking forward to seeing the wonderful creations you’d like to share.  Decorations, recipes, gifts, tutorials, traditions anything that makes your Christmas season special.

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The best part of giving and receiving handmade gifts is the love that is shared with them.  The special memories that cherished and held close to the heart.

This week I’m sharing a gift that I made last year.  I enjoyed making them and will be making more this year!

No Sew Tied Fleece Blankets, these are easy to make and go together quickly.   They make wonderful gifts for adults and children a like.

First you need to decide what size your going to make.  Last year I made one bed sized (about 2 meters) and one couch throw (about 1 1/2 meters).  This year I’m planing to make car blankets so I will make them 1 meter long.

Once you have decided how long you want your blankets, lay two pieces of fleece out on top of each other.  I like to use a print for the top and a solid on the back.  Cut the pieces to the same size.  I’ve found it helps to cut both at the same time, other wise they can “magically” end up a little different.  Fleece likes to slip around a bit.

Lay the two pieces out flat on top of each other.  Now I like to pin the fleece together ever foot or so, about 6 inches in from the edge.  Cut a 4 inch square out of each corner.

Now starting at one corner cut straight lines into the blanket 4 inches deep.  It doesn’t have to be exact, this is very forgiving.  Cut the strips about an inch wide, again this is forgiving.

Once you have gone all around the blanket, it’s time to start tying.  Take the two fringe pieces and tye them together like a shoe lace but with out the bows.  I do this twice for each piece, being careful to match the top and bottom fringe up correctly.

Once you’ve gone all the way around your done!

If your having a homemade Christmas I would love it if you shared your links to your Gifts From The Heart in the MckLinky below.

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• Gifts you are making this year.
• Gifts you have made in previous years.
• Tutorials for making gifts.
• Favorite holiday recipes.  I love giving baked gifts!

• What are your favorite family Christmas traditions?
• Are you starting new traditions?

• Nov. 25 (yes I’m late, this should have been on the 23rd but we’ve been sick)
• Nov 30
• Dec. 7
• Dec. 14
• Dec. 21
• Dec. 28 This last week will be to share gifts we couldn’t share before Christmas.

Please copy the button code at the top of this post to link back to.